Manchester United 3-1 Club Bruges: Michael Carrick own goal cancelled out by brilliant double from new boy Memphis Depay before substitute Marouane Fellaini scores crucial third
- Manchester United earn Champions League qualifier first leg victory against Belgian outfit
- Michael Carrick inadvertently turned to ball into his own net to hand the visitors a precious away goal
- Memphis Depay put his side back on track with a brilliant solo effort to open his United account
- The Dutchman produced another stunner just before half-time to put Louis van Gaal's side into the lead
- Bruges were left with 10 men for the final 10 minutes after Brandon Mechele was shown a second yellow card
- Substitute Marouane Fellaini puts United into commanding 3-1 lead with last minute header
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He doesn’t walk it in, Memphis. Manchester United’s signing of the summer demonstrated his gift for the spectacular, with two of the most perfectly executed goals Old Trafford will see all season.
Setting up the third with almost the last kick of the match, the young Dutchman has probably done enough to steer United through to the group stage already. Bruges have nobody like Memphis Depay at their disposal, not even Lionel Messi’s old friend from his Barcelona youth team days, Victor Vazquez.
After an early scare, United were much the better team here, and Bruges had no answer to the speed, wit and accuracy of Depay, his first-half goals the highlight of their season so far. It is three straight wins now, but this was the most impressive — a victory that came with some of the panache of old.
Memphis Depay celebrates putting Manchester United into a 2-1 lead in their Champions League qualifier against Club Bruges
Spanish winger Juan Mata (right) congratulates Depay following the winger's second strike of the evening
United goalkeeper Sergio Romero is unable to stop Michael Carrick's attempted clearance as Bruges take a shock 1-0 lead
Romero looks on in anguish as the ball drifts past his right hand and into the United net inside the first 10 minutes
If the accusation has been that United have lacked style under Louis van Gaal, Depay is the antidote. He would not look out of place on any team’s catwalk. The No 7 shirt means something at Old Trafford and it would appear Van Gaal has awarded it to the right man.
United were an unlikely goal down when Depay started to take the game away from Bruges. An eighth-minute Michael Carrick own goal had stunned Old Trafford but the Dutchman cheered the locals up again just five minutes later. Carrick laid the ball in and he brought it under control before lobbing defender Dion Cools, skipping round the other side and beginning to work his way inside.
The crowd were screaming for him to shoot but Depay took his time. He knew what he was doing and when he pulled the trigger, his curling effort had perfectly targeted the opening at the far post, leaving goalkeeper Sebastien Bruzzese no chance.
The second, after 43 minutes, was, if anything, its equal. Daley Blind hit a perfectly weighted pass into Depay’s path on the left and he cut inside again before unleashing a quite spectacular shot that flew past Bruzzese and into the net.
His every involvement caused pandemonium. When he ran straight at the Bruges defence after 52 minutes, one could almost hear sirens going off. Ultimately, the panic told. Centre-half Brandon Mechele will miss the second leg having been sent off for a second bookable offence, a needless foul on Javier Hernandez who was going away from goal at the time.
Yet it was Depay’s final contribution, an assist not a goal, that should see United home in Belgium a week on Wednesday. Referee Deniz Aytekin had the whistle in his mouth, literally, when he allowed United to complete their attack towards the Stretford End. Bruges might have something to say about that when they find out. Maybe had the play been deep and more central, United would have been marching towards the tunnel preparing to defend a slender lead.
Instead, Aytekin delayed, Depay whipped the ball in from the left and Marouane Fellaini headed it past Bruzzese. Van Gaal said they had been working on that in training. The winger putting one on the bonce of the big man? Where does he get them from?
Still, United should have it taped from here. Only a calamity got Bruges in front and only a calamity would get them back in contention. Unfortunately, goalkeeper Sergio Romero has the potential to be that calamity, and after 60 minutes he almost was.
He collected a simple backpass but held on to it for an eternity, creating a 50-50 with substitute striker Obbi Oulare. Romero came off worse and was lucky to be awarded a free-kick. Had Bruges rolled the ball into the unguarded net it would have been the equaliser. A valuable reminder not to break out the cigars just yet.
Carrick (16) sits on the Old Trafford turf after seeing his attempted clearance fly past Argentine goalkeeper Romero
The United players look around in confusion after falling behind just eight minutes into the Champions League qualifier
Victor Vazquez (left) is joined by Belgian defender Laurens De Bock as the pair celebrate their side's opening goal
The Bruges fans, decked in blue, were in fine voice inside Old Trafford as they got behind their team
Legendary former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was in the stands at Old Trafford to watch the action unfold
Red Devils captain Wayne Rooney looks to get on the scoresheet with an acrobatic effort during the early stages
Yes, there may have been tougher teams in the draw, but Bruges are still no fools. Their early goal was a fluke, but there was danger on the break and they cannot be taken lightly.
An early goal could change the complexion of the tie and as Carrick found to his cost, it only takes a lapse or a bad break.
Vazquez took a free-kick 30 yards out, which he clipped low and without much thought or threat. It hit Adnan Januzaj, however, troubling Carrick, who stuck out a leg, succeeding only in diverting the ball in at the near post out of reach of a despairing Romero.
It was not the most auspicious start and, even at this early stage, Van Gaal’s stunned face reflected the huge pressure to qualify.
It was unthinkable that United would not make it into the tournament proper this year. Weren’t Bruges supposed to be the soft option?
Yet United responded well. If this season has been about containment and slender single-goal victories so far, here at last was a glimpse of the cavalier football fans are desperate to revisit.
Depay, obviously, and Januzaj were always a threat, combining well on the left, with Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney buzzing around the periphery.
The game was little more than a minute old when Mata put Januzaj in for a cross which Rooney just couldn’t reach to turn in. After his fruitless mission at Villa Park on Friday, what a start that would have been.
In the 26th minute, a Depay corner ended with Rooney attempting an ambitious overhead kick at the near post. He made a good connection but was unsighted, and the ball was cleared off the line.
United new boy Depay lets fly with his right boot as four Bruges players attempted to block the shot
The Dutch winger found space in the Bruges penalty area after a brilliant solo run to level the score at Old Trafford
Depay wheels away in celebration after opening his United account and bringing Louis van Gaal's side level
Depay is smothered by his United team-mates as they celebrate drawing level in the Champions League qualifier
Red Devils new boy Depay skips past the challenge of Bruges defender Dion Cools before unleashing a powerful strike on goal
The former PSV Eindhoven youngster hits another stunning effort from 20-yards out to hand United the lead
Depay, who was never less than magnificent on the flank, should have gone it alone soon after when he broke free, only to square the ball unselfishly for Januzaj, but without the necessary accuracy. Januzaj, always a threat, hared through on goal from a Mata pass but tumbled trying to win the physical battle with Oscar Duarte.
That happened too often, really. If Van Gaal is serious about playing him as a central striker any time soon, he may need to splash out on membership of a boxing gym.
The second half was much the same. Chances for Rooney, Januzaj and a couple more for Depay who expressed his frustration at failing to wrap the tie up single-handed.
By the end, though, United were all smiles. Rooney was better, the football was better, and in Depay, Old Trafford may have a new hero at No 7. He’s got one hell of an act to follow — a few in fact — but already looks as if he may be up for the challenge. And then some.
The 21-year-old salutes the Old Trafford crowd after his brilliant second goal puts United into a 2-1 lead before half-time
Depay performs the popular dance craze the 'Nae Nae' (left) before blowing a kiss to his adoring new fans
Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger replaced Carrick at half-time to make his first European appearance for United
Romero looks to be in some considerable pain on the floor after a collision with Bruges substitute Obbi Oulare
Depay misses a golden opportunity to score his first United hat-trick as he blazes a second half shot high and wide
Rooney is bundled over by Bruges' Oscar Duarte as United press for a third goal in the Champions League qualifier
Brandon Mechele (right) is shown a second yellow card for his late challenge on United substitute Javier Hernandez
United substitute Marouane Fellaini (right) heads his side into a crucial 3-1 lead with just second of the match remaining
Fellaini, who replaced Rooney in the 83rd minute, celebrates handing United a 3-1 advantage before the final whistle
Referee Deniz Aytekin (in yellow) actually had the whistle in his mouth as Depay curled a cross onto Fellaini's head
Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera took to Instagram to celebrate United's 3-1 win with Fellaini
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3202617/Manchester-United-3-1-Club-Bruges-Michael-Carrick-goal-cancelled-brilliant-double-new-boy-Memphis-Depay-substitute-Marouane-Fellaini-scores-third.html#ixzz3jDklgIXK
